Page 3 of Between the Lines

Darcy shrugged. “A fresh start.”

Paige nodded, but that answer was so common it was practically printed on the welcome packet. “Lots of people come here for that.”

Darcy angled her head. “Everyone here has a story, don’t they? Some come because they’re tired. Some come because they’re lonely. Some come because they want to be safe.”

Paige looked at her. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to be safe.”

Darcy’s eyes held Paige’s. “Some people want it more than others.”

Was this woman simply odd? Was she one of those people who liked to speak in dramatic little riddles because she thought it made her interesting? Or was she specifically digging, trying to get to something?

But Paige didn’t want to lean into paranoia. It was better to rely on facts and information. Also, why was Darcy barely sweating? Why was her breathing so steady?

Paige had lived through enough to know that the most dangerous people were often the calmest. Paige needed to know more.

“Made any friends yet?” Paige asked.

Darcy’s smile returned, bright and easy. “A few.”

“And?” Paige prompted.

Darcy looked straight ahead now, eyes on the television screen that was playing some daytime talk show where a very cheerful woman was making a smoothie that was the color of something Paige hadn’t seen since her daughter had been a baby.

“They’re lovely people,” Darcy said. “But you know what I’ve noticed about people in this place?”

Paige waited.

Darcy’s voice dropped just slightly. “They’re also very protective.”

Paige kept walking. “Protective of what?”

Darcy turned her head, smile still in place. “Each other.”

Paige’s pulse thudded suddenly. What was that supposed to mean? This woman was full of…something. Paige kept her voice bright. “It’s a good community.”

“It is.” Darcy’s eyes gleamed with a calculating light. “Communities are fascinating. They have rules. Spoken and unspoken. Everyone pretends the latter don’t exist, but they do.”

Paige wondered if Darcy was talking about the book club. Paige thought about the women and their loyalty. The way they rallied together when someone needed support. The way they held each other up.

Darcy continued, her tone conversational. “I imagine you’re one of the rule-makers.”

Paige’s lips curved slightly. “Not me.”

Darcy gave a little hum, clearly not convinced. “You’re the one everyone listens to.”

Paige stared straight ahead, doing her best to keep her breathing even. “People listen to who they want to listen to.”

“Maybe, but people trust you.” Darcy’s voice softened on that word. “That’s a powerful thing, Paige Wheeler.”

Paige was quiet for a beat. Then, feeling a little fed up, she said, “Do you have a point, Darcy Lane?”

Darcy laughed again, that light sound with no real humor in it. “Oh, I like you even more now.”

Paige didn’t respond because she was liking Darcy less.

Darcy’s treadmill pace increased, matching Paige’s more closely. “My point is, people here think they know you. They certainly talk about you as if they do.”

Paige’s throat went dry. She grabbed her water bottle and took a long drink. She was not enjoying this conversation, but she had another mile to go. She should have hit the beach instead, but today was leg day and she needed to be here.